the effort. An awkward moment passed as they limply shook hands. As if neither could decide who should let go first. Why was she behaving so loopily around this man? Finally, Rita pulled out of his grasp.
“It should have occurred to me that at least one or two of Lizzie’s friends would be on this flight,” Clint continued. “I’m not used to flying with the airlines. My private aircraft is undergoing some repairs.”
“Did you really just say that your jet is in the shop?”
He gave her an embarrassed smile. “I guess I did.”
He’d certainly come far. Though again, she wasn’t surprised. The man she’d met all those years ago was clearly driven and talented. “You were just starting out in the construction business back when Lizzie and I were in school.”
He nodded. “That’s correct.”
“You’ve just acquired a company, I believe.”
“Correct again. The man I worked for was ready to retire. Said he trusted me more than anyone else to take over. Gave me quite a deal when he sold me the business.”
“A deal you clearly made the most of then took to new astronomical heights.”
He studied her. “I guess you could say that. Along with some well-placed investments, things have gone pretty well.”
What an understatement. The man owned a private jet. She knew he’d single-handedly put his sister through school. No doubt, he was the one paying for this lavish destination wedding.
Clint Fallon represented the epitome of a self-made success story. She’d followed his life for a while in the local papers and news sites after graduating from school. Everyone was fascinated by a self-made man. But then her own life had gone completely awry. Unlike Clint and his string of successes, she’d only managed to accumulate one failure after another. Though heaven knew he’d been handed a much worse set of circumstances.
Well, this was her chance to get away from all that and try to forget. For the next few days anyway. This trip was all about Lizzie and her future husband and the love they shared.
She was trying to come up with a response when the airline announced they were finally boarding. “I should head out to the lobby,” she told him. “I’m seated toward the back. I’ll be one of the first they call.”
But he reached for her arm to stop her from leaving. “Wait. I happen to know the seat next to me is free.”
“But I thought this was a full flight. They were asking for volunteers to give up their spots.”
“Fairly recent development. I didn’t get a chance to update the airline. I was supposed to be, ah...traveling with someone. Their plans fell through at the last minute.”
Understanding dawned. Pictures of Clint always showed him with a female companion. Always someone very glamorous and beautiful. None seemed to last for more than a few news cycles. The timing of his latest breakup appeared fairly inconvenient. He was going stag to his own sister’s wedding.
“You can sit with me up in first class.”
She had to decline. He’d already done more than enough by paying for her breakfast and vouching for her to stay in the lounge. “I appreciate that. But it’s not necessary.”
He blinked at her. “I could use the company,” he countered, then pulled his phone out of his pocket. “It’ll just take me a second.”
Before she knew what he was up to, he was quickly on the phone with the airlines. Clearly, he had some kind of executive direct line that reached an employee right away.
Clint wasn’t terribly good at reading her frustrated vibe.
He was already ending the call before she could protest any further. “You’re all set. We can board together.”
Rita clamped down on her annoyance. If she said anything further she would merely sound petulant and ungrateful. Never mind that she was trying to feel more in charge of herself, more in control of her life. This flight had literally been the first travel ticket she’d purchased for herself, paid for completely on her own. And Clint Fallon had just given it away and upgraded her to first class.
She knew it was illogical of her to be angry or to feel slighted. Clint had no idea of her circumstances. Or the silly symbolic meaning she’d put behind the whole trip.
Rita herself had only actually just now realized how much it meant to her.
* * *
It appeared Rita had not taken him seriously when he’d said he could use some company on the flight. Despite sitting right next to him, she’d barely spoken two words. The complete opposite of what he knew would have happened with Maxie. She would have no doubt talked his ear off about everything from her latest gig to the spa treatment she’d been scheduled for.
Something between the two extremes would have been nice.
He should have taken the opportunity to get some work done. But he’d found himself distracted by the delicate rose scent of her perfume. Her jet-black hair brushed against his shoulder when she shifted in her seat and he’d had to resist the urge to ask her if he could run his fingers through the thick silky strands.
How uncharacteristic of him.
Now, several hours later, she was just as quiet. They were finally approaching the Grande Maui resort in Kaanapali. And he was experiencing yet another silent ride. The woman had no interest in speaking to him.
The vehicle finally came to a stop and they both exited, then waited as the young driver pulled their bags out of the rear trunk.
He heard Lizzie’s excited voice from behind before he could even reach for his luggage.
“You’re here!” his sister shouted, her voice breathy with excitement. He found himself bear-hugged in her skinny arms a short second later. She noticed Rita standing next to them when she finally let go. “You’re here too.” Lizzie glanced at the town car. “You two came together?”
She didn’t wait for an answer as she took Rita in her arms next. Clint watched as the two women also embraced, Rita’s dark hair and olive skin a complete contrast to his sister’s red coloring and fair complexion. There was true affection in their tight hug.
“I ran into Rita at the airport,” he answered his sister over their heads.
“Oh, how fortunate,” Lizzie exclaimed as they finally pulled apart.
“Yes. Very lucky for me,” Rita began. “He paid for my breakfast, saved me from a very embarrassing situation at the executive lounge, then upgraded me to first class.”
If she actually felt lucky about any of that, her tone distinctly said otherwise. Was she mad at him? Whatever for? The thought tugged at him. Usually, the women in his life made it more than clear whatever his transgressions against them might be. Maybe he was interpreting her tiredness after a long flight for sarcasm. Or perhaps he was hearing things; the large gushing stone fountain behind them was pretty loud after all.
“You’ll both have to tell me exactly how you ran into each
